Whether you are ready to update your kitchen with a new refrigerator or are researching your options, here are five features that are the most popular today. Keep in mind, though, that some of these features will undoubtedly add to your new refrigerator’s price tag but will certainly make your life easier and might even make your neighbors jealous.
1. Ice and water dispenser Perhaps the most popular feature families are looking for when buying a new refrigerator is the all mighty through-the-door ice and water dispenser. This very sought-after feature was first introduced in the 1990s and has since come a long way. Manufacturers have recognized its popularity and continued to improve it. As a result, they have successfully transformed a simple tap water dispenser into something most people who have used it cannot live without. The feature is now included in many refrigerator models and for many families, can make or break a deal. After all, when it comes to quickly quenching your thirst, there is no doubt that getting iced cold water without the hassle of opening the fridge door is the best feeling in the world, not to mention convenient.
2. Door-in-door storage is a new feature that is quickly becoming a favorite of many mothers and grandmothers. This hidden compartment lets kids and dads—and everyone who likes to loiter in front of the refrigerator while they decide what to grab—easily access their favorite drinks or snacks without opening the large fridge door. In short, it keeps warm air out of your refrigerator. This, of course, translates into a longer shelf life for the rest of your food items. Besides being energy efficient, the door-in-door feature is one of the most convenient compartments in today’s refrigerators. This option was first seen in 2012 and manufacturers have kept enhancing it. It is currently included in select models by brands such as Kenmore, LG, and Samsung.
3. Freshness Features that help fresh foods stay that way longer are also on demand. Manufacturers are paying attention to the trend as more and more Americans are purchasing fresh items and need them to last longer. Some of the technology that aids in fulfilling this request is a quick chill option that lowers the temperature of the refrigerator with the press of a button or the flick of a switch. This technology helps keep food at the right temperature, maintaining the flavor and freshness longer. No more waiting for the refrigerator to reach the right temperature after putting all your fresh produce away. Now, what good is quick chilling technology if your refrigerator cannot maintain the right temperature? This is where airflow cooling comes in. Some refrigerators have vents in the fridge and freezer through which air flows and is distributed to all areas of the unit to compensate for any fluctuations when the door is opened, or new items are stored. Some brands also have air purifiers to help eliminate airborne bacteria, mold, and odors from your refrigerator.
Additionally, to maintain optimal humidity levels, some refrigerators now come with dual evaporators, one for the fridge and one for the freezer. Having separate evaporators not only makes maintaining the right humidity levels easier, but since there is no need to have the air circulate between the fridge and the freezer to maintain the right conditions, you can be sure that the ice won’t change the flavor of your favorite drink.
4. Temperature control Although speaking about temperature control as a freshness feature when seems kind of silly, refrigerators now come with enhanced temperature control features. Independent temperature controls let users set different temperatures inside a drawer or area of the fridge, creating the perfect conditions for the type of food that is being stored in it. You can set the temperature for fruits, vegetables, deli, meats, or cold drinks. This feature also helps control the humidity levels in that drawer.
5. Adjustable shelves and drawers give customizable a whole new meaning. In sharp contrast to older refrigerators that would only let us adjust the height of wire shelves, today’s models let you move, re-arrange, and adjust spill-proof glass shelves to store almost anything. This makes storing a turkey or a tall pitcher with iced tea as simple as putting a stick of butter away. There are drop-down trays that can be tucked away to give you more room on the fridge door, split shelves and quick space shelves that allow you to drop down the front portion of a shelf and tuck it underneath, and shelves that can be flipped up and out of the way. Space within a drawer can also be adjusted to fit soft drinks or a bottle of wine.
Click here to find out which of these features can be found in our top ten refrigerator list.